Zol-gel synthesis of SiAlON materials dopped by rare-earth elements

Abstract

The phase composition and morphological features of си-sialons doped with REE (Eu, Tb, Ce) were studied by nitriding the mixed sol prepared on the basis of silicon and aluminum alkoxides without introducing the corresponding nitrides. It was established that as a result of nitriding of a doped REE mixed Si-Al sol at 1650 °C, the β-SiAlON phases with a hexagonal crystal structure corresponding to β-Si3Al3O3N5 are formed. At a firing temperature of 1700 °C crystalline sialon types corresponding to the χ-phase with a monoclinic structure (Si2Al3O7N and Si6Al10O21N4) are formed. The effect of the addition of red-earth elements on the morphology of crystalline particles of the resulting sialon phases is shown.